Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a system of therapy that combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice. Through DBT, the patient is taught to accept the presence of uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and calmly work through them, rather than resorting to self-destructive behaviors. DBT can be broken down into two main components:

Individual Therapy: In individual therapy sessions, the therapists and client work through any new or recurring issues. These issues are prioritized in the following way:

DBT has been found to be effective for many people with chemical dependency and co-occurring disorders. We work with both DBT and CBT to find the best therapy or combination of therapies for the individual patient.